ARTICLE 1. NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. Name. The name of the organization is REACHigher, the greater Lorain County P-16 Council. Its principal office is in Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio.
Section 2. Purpose. REACHigher (P-16 Council) is organized for the purpose of pursuing effective strategies to improve the quality of education for students in greater Lorain County in order to ensure long-term academic and personal success for all learners; from birth to career readiness.
Section 3. Position Statement. REACHigher engages the community to advance the educational experience and connects learners with resources to foster a vibrant economic future.
ARTICLE 2. LEADERSHIP TEAM
Section 1. Governance. The Leadership Team will serve as the governing body for REACHigher and provide oversight and direction.
Section 2. Membership. Membership will reflect the diversity of Lorain County and shall represent the following categories:
EDUCATION:
- Representative - Lorain Community College
- Representative - Oberlin College
- Superintendent - Educational Service Center of Lorain County
- Superintendent - Lorain County JVS
- Superintendent - Lorain County School District
- Representative - Early Childhood Education Program at Lorain County Community College
- Representative - Non-Public School/Charter/Private School
BUSINESS COMMUNITY:
- County Business (Chamber to appoint/Team Lorain County)
COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
- Representatives of various agencies (i.e., Foundations, United Way, Workforce Development, Child Care Resource Center, Health Care)
GOVERNMENT:
- Lorain County Administrator or designee
- Elected Official (Lorain County Mayors Group, Lorain County Township Trustees)
FAITH-BASED:
- Representative - Ministerial Association
EX-OFFICIO:
- Work Committee Members who are not in a specified category of Section 3.
Section 3. Voting Rights of Members. In the event of a tie, the chairperson of the Leadership Team has the deciding vote.
Section 4. Meetings. Meetings of the Leadership Team may take place five times a year from July through June as established for the coming year by the Leadership Team no later than its last meeting of the year.
Special meetings may be called by the chairperson or a majority of the Leadership Team throughout the year. Meetings may be cancelled by the chairperson.
Section 5. Quorum and Attendance. Eight members (8) present defines a quorum. For purposes of these regulations, a member shall be deemed to be "present in person" at any board meeting, if such member: (i) participates in the board meeting by means of telephonic/video communications and only if all members participating in the board meeting can hear each other; or (ii) is actually physically present at the board meeting.
Section 6. Notice. An official Leadership Team meeting requires written notice (or e-mail) be given two weeks in advance of the meeting.
Section 7. Resignation, Terminations and Absences. Resignation from the Leadership Team must be submitted in writing to and received by the chairperson.
Section 8. Appointments and Vacancies. When vacancies occur, the vice chairperson will recommend another member who then will be voted upon by a majority vote of the Leadership Team.
Section 9. Conflicts of Interest. No contract, action or transaction shall be voided or voidable with respect to REACHigher because the contract, action or transaction is between or affects REACHigher and one or more of its members or officers; is between or affects REACHigher and any other person in which one or more of its members or officers are members, trustees or officers; in which one or more of the REACHigher members or officers have a financial or personal interest; or because one or more interested members or officers participate in a committee thereof that authorizes the contract, action or transaction, if any of the following applies: (a) the material facts as to his or her relationship or interest and as to the contract, action or transaction are disclosed or are known to the members or the committee; and the members or committee, in good faith reasonably justified by the material facts, authorize the contract, action or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested members, even though the disinterested members constitute less than a quorum of the members or committee; (b) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract, action or transaction are disclosed or are known to the members entitled to vote thereon and the contract, action or transaction is specifically approved at a meeting of members held for such purpose of voting on the contract, action or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of REACHigher not interested in the contract, action or transaction; or (c) the contract, action or transaction is fair as to REACHigher as of the time it is authorized or approved by the members or a committee thereof.
Common or interested members may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the members or of a committee thereof which authorizes the contract, action or transaction.
A member is not an interested member soley because of the subject of a contract, action or transaction may involve or affect a change in control of REACHigher or his/her continuation in office as a member of REACHigher.
ARTICLE 3. LEADERSHIP TEAM DUTIES
Section 1. Duties
Leadership Team: Provide oversight and direction including guidance to work groups; monitor fiscal activity and monthly expectations of staff associate; provide reaction to work groups against benchmarks as evidenced by monthly work group reports; ensure work groups review data and identify areas of need; review activities of fiscal committee; provide input through the chairperson for the staff associate’s evaluation.
Chairperson: Presides at meetings of the Leadership Team; performs the normal functions of the role; communicates regularly with the staff associate, approves agendas and minutes prior to being distributed (vice chairperson would do in chairperson’s absence); ensure staff associate evaluation includes Leadership Team input, et cetera. The chairperson may delegate these tasks.
Vice Chairperson: Presides at the Leadership Team meetings in the absence of the chairperson; performs tasks determined jointly with the chairperson; ensures data reports are updated. Oversee governance related activities including the Code of Regulations, membership of the Leadership Team, nomination of officers and evaluation/self-evaluation of the Leadership Team. Monitor the renewal of the registration of REACHigher name with Ohio Secretary of State and the renewal of website license.
Secretary/Treasurer: Oversees and confirms the accuracy of minutes, sending out meeting notifications, distribution of the agenda and minutes to each Leadership Team member and ensures that official records are maintained; work with a finance subcommittee to approve grant requests and monitor grant reports.
Work Group Co-Chairs: Determine responsibilities of each co-chair; develop agendas, proof minutes prior to distribution; request work group dollars; review data with work groups to determine activities that complement Common Core/Completion by Design initiatives; encourage partnerships with organizations; report regularly to the Leadership Team on benchmarks/activities; recommend benchmark changes; submit grant applications; submit webpage changes to staff associate; fundraise; et cetera.
Staff Associate: Reports to chairperson; provide clerical and program support to REACHigher and assistance to the chairperson, Leadership Team, work groups; ready agendas, meeting notifications; provide minutes; facilitate meeting/conference/program arrangements. Additional duties as requested by the chairperson.
Section 2. Evaluation. The Leadership Team will complete annually a self-evaluation.
Section 3. Resignation and Absences. Resignation from the Leadership Team must be in writing and received by the chairperson. A member may be removed for excessive absences.
Section 4. Term of Office. Each officer will serve a two-year term in that respective office. The succession to the chairperson is vice chairperson. The secretary/treasurer may choose to serve as vice chairperson to be in the line of succession.
Section 5. Term of Chairperson. A chairperson’s role should be reviewed every three years. A succession plan within the Work Groups and recognized by the Leadership Team will be in place.
ARTICLE 4. WORK GROUPS, STANDING COMMITTEES, SUBCOMMITTEES AND AD HOC COMMITTEES
Section 1. Committees. The Leadership Team may create committees to help further the purpose of REACHigher. Additional work groups and ad hoc committees for a designated purpose may be created. A standing committee may be formed by the vice chairperson if the Leadership Team that year does not function as a nominating committee or a committee to review the Code of Regulations and/or guidelines. A finance standing committee to support the Treasurer should be formed. The three work groups are: Birth to Grade 3; Grades 4-8; Grade 9 to Post Secondary. The standing committees and work groups shall have an agenda and shall submit a summary of their meetings to the Leadership Team.
Section 2. Standing Committees